© 2024 American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM.org ) and
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP.org ). All rights reserved.
6
TREATMENT OVERVIEW
Behavioral Treatment
• Contingency Management (CM): CM is the most effective
treatment currently available to treat stimulant use disorder.
CM is an evidence-based treatment in which patients get small
rewards to encourage positive behaviors. Cash, vouchers, or
prizes are given for treatment participation or progress. CM
can be combined with other behavioral treatments including
individual counseling, group counseling, cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT), the community reinforcement approach
(CRA), and the Matrix Model.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): During CBT trained
clinicians help the patient to change negative thought patterns.
Patients develop skills to change unwanted behavior patterns
and cope with threats to recovery. CBT can be provided in
individual or group therapy.
• Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA): During CRA,
clinicians work closely with patients to build a new way of
living without substance use that is more rewarding than
their life with substance use. CRA helps patients discover a
healthier way of living that brings them enjoyment.
• Matrix Model: The Matrix Model of addiction treatment
provides individual counseling, CBT, family education, and
social support groups. Patients are encouraged to participate
for 16 weeks of intensive treatment.
CONTINUING CARE
Addiction is a chronic illness. Patients benefit from long-term
care which often begins with more intensive treatment. Patients
transition to less intensive care and recovery support over time.
When the patient has achieved stable recovery, they should
check in with their clinician once every few months to monitor
their recovery and re-start care if needed.
